Month: April 2018

Ladies and gentlemen, today is the last day of April . . . which means that it’s gonna be MAY!! Yes, sorry, I had to do it.

In less than an hour, fans out in Hollywood, California and online all over the world will get to watch *NSYNC (finally) get their star on the Walk of Fame! If you’re like me and couldn’t make it out to Cali for the event, you can stream it live on walkoffame.com at 11:30 PDT.

Leading up to the ceremony, where all five members will reunite, they announced a pop-up shop in Los Angeles that is aptly dubbed Dirty Pop-Up. You heard that correctly. Not only do we get to see our favorite group-gone-too-soon together again, we also get new merch! Have we just transported back to my high school years??? Give me some sort of glimmer of hope for a mini reunion tour and I might need an EKG to check my heart lol.

I remember watching Disney’s In Concert with *NSYNC back in 1998 and I was immediately hooked. I begged my parents to buy me the VHS (yes, it was that long ago) of *N The Mix and watched it repeatedly for months – I’ve since upgraded to the DVD version of it and I even introduced my niece to it when she was younger. I had stacks of floppy disks with pictures on them and my bedroom walls were wallpapered with *NSYNC posters and magazine articles. I was that person.

Merch – Volume 1

I saw them live for the first time at the Broward County Fair where Britney Spears opened up for them ( I had no idea who she was yet). My best friend and I were trying to get there early, but we had a fire drill at school that delayed our release. We definitely contemplated fleeing during the drill, but it turns out it wasn’t just a drill-someone set a garbage can on fire on the third floor and ruined our chances at meeting the guys. Another friend of mine sat next to me in Science in 10th grade. We’d have *NSYNC magazines and books resting on top of our Science books and I don’t think we ever looked so involved in our schoolwork! I was lucky enough to see them live 4 times before their “hiatus” in 2002. I was just graduating high school and between that and their hiatus, I thought my world was turned upside down.

16 years later and here I am, prepping to watch the guys receive their star on the Walk of Fame and checking out merch online in their store at nsync.com. Maybe now, my world is being turned right-side up!

So, I just wanted to send a huge CONGRATS to Justin, JC, Lance, Joey and Chris for making their mark in music history no matter how long it lasted. As I sit here with my *NSYNC playlist on repeat today, I’m finally old enough to hold up a glass (if I wasn’t at work) and cheers to a fabulous run! Thank you for everything.

Elephant rescues in Thailand are rare, unpredictable and often life threatening. After waiting over 2 years, actor/director Ashley Bell and a team of elephant rescuers led by world renowned Asian elephant conservationist and TIME Magazine’s Hero of Asia, Sangdeaun Lek Chailert, embark on a daring mission to rescue Noi Na, a 70-year old partially blind trekking elephant and bring her 500 miles across Thailand to freedom.

African elephants are slaughtered for their ivory, but sadly the plight of the Asian Elephant has been completely overlooked even though they are the elephant we are most familiar with in zoos, circuses and elephant rides. Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story exposes the cruel secret that every Asian elephant has had to endure to become a service animal; a process known as Pajan, aka The Crush Box. Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story aims to ignite a new way of thinking about this species and shows what can be done to prevent the extinction of Asian elephants.

Man! I had the chance to watch this last night. It has to be one of the best documentary’s I’ve seen in a long time. LOVE & BANANAS: AN ELEPHANT STORY definitely took me on a roller coaster of emotions.

Sadness. Anxiety. Happiness.

Everyone involved in this mission is awesome!! Lek is a BEAST!!! This little lady here…AMAZING. Shoutouts to Ashley Bell and her team for bringing this to the screen.

LOVE & BANANAS: AN ELEPHANT STORY is a MUST WATCH film! After watching it – I immediately followed all their social media to help spread the word on what’s happening to Asian Elephants. I might not have a zillion dollars but anything helps, right?

People!! Watch this film where and when you can. LOVE & BANANAS: AN ELEPHANT STORY is screening in select cities now & there are more to come. Check out the links below for more info.

Fans of the series will get the chance to brave the Upside Down and confront the supernatural as each park debuts all-new mazes inspired by season one of the critically-acclaimed series.

The parallel universe, referred to as the Upside Down that terrorized the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in Netflix’s mega-hit “Stranger Things,” will bring the chittering, predatory Demogorgon to “Halloween Horror Nights” to stalk unwitting guests as they encounter iconic scenes, characters and environments from the mesmerizing series.

​Working collaboratively with Netflix, along with the creators and executive producer of the blockbuster series—Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy, the mazes at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Singapore will be authentic representations of “Stranger Things,” designed to transport guests into artfullyrecreated scenes and storylines.

From the menacing Hawkins National Laboratory, under theU.S. Department of Energy, to the Byers home adorned with an erratic display of flashing Christmas lights and the eerie Upside Down woods oozing a shower of floating orb-like spores, the chilling new mazes will offer surprising twists and unexpected turns around every corner.

About Universal Studios HollywoodUniversal Studios Hollywood is The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour. As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows. Recent additions include “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” which features a bustling Hogsmeade village and such critically-acclaimed rides as “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™”. Other immersive lands include “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” as well as “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, located adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons Ride™.” and the “The Walking Dead” daytime attraction. The world-renowned Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s signature attraction, inviting guests behind-the-scenes of the world’s biggest and busiest movie and television production studio where they can also experience such authentic thrill rides as “Fast & Furious—Supercharged.” Coming in Summer 2018, Universal Studios Hollywood will welcome debut The DreamWorks Theatre featuring the premier attraction, “Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest.” The adjacent Universal CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex also includes the all-new multi-million dollar, redesigned Universal CityWalkCinema, featuring deluxe recliner seating in screening room quality theatres, and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert stage.

Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood are available online at HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood and on Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood,” on Instagram at @HorrorNights and Twitter at @HorrorNights as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information. Watch videos on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube and join the conversation using #UniversalHHN.

Surrounded by Las Vegas’ lights and glamour, “The After” will be presented by Neutrogena and Monster Products and sponsored by Heineken, Ciroc and City National Bank

Telemundo and Universal Music Latin Entertainment will host “The After,” the official 20th Anniversary After Party of the Billboard Latin Music Awards. The event will take place TONIGHT Thursday, April 26 at the Jewel night club inside the Aria Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and feature special performances by Colombian star Karol G, viral phenomenon-turned-DJ, Gianluca Vacchi and platinum-selling artist and syndicated radio host/DJ Alex Sensation with NYC’s Latin Mix DJ’s.

The official After Party of the 20th Anniversary of the Billboard Latin Music Awards will be presented by Neutrogena and Monster Products and sponsored by Heineken, Ciroc and City National Bank, with attendees to include J Balvin, and hosts of this year’s award ceremony, Gaby Espino and Marco Antonio Regil, as well as celebrities, hosts and singers who will celebrate 20 years of musical excellence.

Fans will be able to experience the excitement of the event at @LatinBillboards on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, as well as on Snapchat with TeamTelemundo, and will be able to join the conversation at #Billboards2018 and #TheAfter.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in the Latin music, as determined by the actual sales, “streaming”, radio airplay and social data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts during a one-year period from the rankings dated February 4, 2017 through this year’s January 27 charts. Based on album sales, digital track sales, streaming data and monitored radio airplay provided by Nielsen Music and social data provided by Next Big Sound, Billboard’s rankings and the world’s most authoritative music charts. Finalists, and the eventual winners, reflect the performance of new recordings on Billboard’s albums and songs charts, including Top Latin Albums, Hot Latin Songs, Latin Streaming Songs and Latin Digital Songs, among others.

I recently submitted two essays to Anti-Heroin Chic and am happy to report that BOTH have been accepted! ‘On the Way Down’ was published on April 24th and the second essay will be published at a later date.

Both of these essays are extremely personal to me, so I was nervous about submitting them. My only hope is that someone who might be experiencing something similar won’t feel so alone.

‘On the Way Down’ was written about my first major experience with anxiety. Losing someone close to me was a trigger for me and it’s become a part of who I am. I was experimenting with different styles of writing, and I wrote this essay using only semi-colons to give off the effect of experiencing the anxiety I was feeling at the time.

You can read the essay for yourself by clicking the link below. This will redirect you over to Anti-Heroin Chic:

BAD SAMARITAN in theaters May 4th

And before you make a decision regarding using valet parking at the theater (or anywhere, really!) please check out this clip by Robert Sheehan!

The WORST valet tips of all time by Robert Sheehan:

SYNOPSIS:

BAD SAMARITAN is a terrifying cautionary tale of two thieves uncovering more than what they bargained for when breaking into a house they thought would be an easy score. After making a shocking discovery, they must choose to run and hide, or face the killer whose dark secrets they have exposed.

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A BAD DATE AT A COLDPLAY SHOW INSPIRES
THE NEW VIDEO FOR ‘WILD’ WATCH IT HERE

FROM THE DEBUT ALBUM TALK OF THIS TOWNWHICH FOLLOWS ON JULY 27TH ON WARNER BROS. RECORDS

Plays sold-out London show at Bush Hall on May 2nd

Set to support Michael Bublé at British Summer Time in Hyde Park on July 13th

At a time when country music is exploding into the mainstream with huge collaborations between Justin Timberlake and ChrisStapleton, and BebeRexha and FloridaGeorgiaLine, CatherineMcGrath is poised to become the first international crossover star from the burgeoning UK country scene.

That superstar-to-be status is underlined with the release of a brand new official video for her current single ‘Wild’. Contrasting fun times in Nashville with a romantic interest with being effectively alone at a gig, the bittersweet video reflects Catherine’s own experiences of going on a date to a Coldplay show with a guy who was still fixated on his ex. The video was directed by Justin Nolan Key (TaylorSwift, CassadeePope).

“I grew up inspired by so many artists who were based in Nashville and obviously the country music scene is so huge there, so to have filmed this in the heart of the city was incredible,” says Catherine. “My last two videos used home footage and animation, so it was cool to do something so different for ‘Wild’ – especially as it tells such a specific story. It’s definitely my favourite song and video that I’ve released so far.”

Catherine co-wrote the song with SteveRobson as well as LindyRobbins (DuaLipa) and JeffreySteele (RascalFlatts). The track previews the July 27th release of her debut album Talk Of This Town, which was recorded at various locations in Nashville and London, and affirms Catherine’s credentials as an artist and songwriter to be reckoned with.

The album Talk Of This Town features three tracks which have each exceeded a million streams at Spotify in the shape of the ‘Cinderella’, ‘Thought It Was Gonna Be Me’ and ‘Just In Case’ as well as a wealth of new material. Other highlights include ‘Don’t Let Me Forget’, a duet with the American country sensation HunterHayes; the anthemic ‘Lost In The Middle’, a celebration of the escapist qualities of country music; and the closing ‘She’ll Never Lose You’, a stripped-back ballad which showcases the power and finesse of Catherine’s vocal.

Raised in Rostrevor, a small rural village in NorthernIreland, CatherineMcGrath is the personification of how country music is opening its borders to talent from far outside of its epicentre in Nashville. In fact, Catherine was immediately embraced by the community upon her first visit.

Working with a kindred spirit in the shape of producer SteveRobson – a Geordie who became a force within the scene after co-writing Rascal Flatts’ smash hit ‘What Hurts The Most’ – Catherine went onto collaborate with a number of Nashville powerhouse producers and co-writers such as Jimmy Robbins (KeithUrban), LizRose (TaylorSwift), ForestGlenWhitehead (KelseaBallerini) and SamEllis (HunterHayes).

Country music is of course rooted in Irish folk, so it feels natural that Catherine is at the forefront of a new wave of country. It’s fitting on a personal level too. Catherine was raised in a music loving family, and has regularly performed at her parents’ spirited Fiddler’sGreen festival, which attracts musicians from as far afield as North America and Germany. And when Catherine was ready to reach a wider audience, she posted covers of her favorite country songs to YouTube which resulted in her obtaining management and signing a deal with WarnerBros. Records.

Hailed as a major new talent by SirEltonJohn, CatherineMcGrath’s ascent has been backed by Radio 1 support from Adele Roberts, ScottMills and CelSpellman; a playlist at Radio 2, where Bob Harris has been a long-term fan; and ten consecutive tracks which have been added to Spotify’s New Music Friday UK playlist.

Catherine McGrath is quickly building a reputation in the live area too, with highlights including two performances at Country 2 Country, further festivals including Latitude and Wilderness, and tours with Dan & Shay and The Shires. Her debut London headline show at CamdenAssembly was sold-out, while next month’s BushHall gig also sold-out within two hours and her Manchester show at the Deaf Institute soon followed suit. Ticket sales are also strong in Glasgow, which looks set to sell-out imminently.

Her touring profile has just been boosted with the news that she’ll support Michael Bublé at the British Summer Time festival in HydePark on July13th.

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The official teaser posters for DOG DAYS are here! Check out the posters below and see DOG DAYS starring Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Eva Longoria, Finn Wolfhard, Adam Pally and more IN THEATERS August 10th!

SYNOPSIS: From acclaimed production company LD Entertainment (The Zookeeper’s Wife, Jackie, and Megan Leavey) and Director Ken Marino comes Dog Days. Dog Days is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals around sunny Los Angeles. When these human and canine’s paths start to intertwine, their lives begin changing in ways they never expected.

Experience the Magic of Disney’s Beloved Flight of Fantasy:“Peter Pan” Soars Into the Walt Disney Signature Collectionon Digital May 29 and on Blu-ray™ June 5

Celebrate the 65th anniversary of the timeless classic and enjoy new and original bonus features!

In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Disney’s beloved flight of fantasy, “Peter Pan,” joins the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection, landing in homes on Digital and Movies Anywhere on May 29 and on Blu-ray June 5. With a little faith, trust and pixie dust, every member of the family will let their imagination soar on this epic adventure to Never Land, sparkling with legendary animation, extraordinary music and both all-new and classic bonus features.

The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of “Peter Pan” invites adventures of all ages to believe in magic once again and experience a timeless treasure from Disney’s golden age of animation that has stirred the hearts and imaginations of moviegoers worldwide since its original 1953 release. The Signature Collection edition offers over two hours of classic bonus features plus never-before-seen extras, including the latest installment of “Stories from Walt’s Office,” which explores Walt’s love of flying and the company planes; a nostalgic reunion between Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John); and new “Oke” renditions of the classic song “You Can Fly” and deleted song “Never Smile at a Crocodile” accompanied by on-screen lyrics and the film’s unforgettable animated characters.

In “Peter Pan,” fantastic adventures await the Darling children—Wendy, John and Michael—when Peter Pan, the hero of their stories, whisks them away to the magical world of Never Land. After flying with Peter and the delightfully impish Tinker Bell past the “second star to the right and straight on till morning,” they explore the enchanted island and Peter’s secret hideout with the Lost Boys, and leap into high-flying battles with swashbuckling pirates and the infamous villain Captain Hook.

“Peter Pan” is the seventh title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. The film takes its place alongside “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi,” “The Lion King” and “Lady and the Tramp.”

Bonus Features:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL*:

New Signature Collection Bonus

Stories from Walt’s Office: Walt & Flight – “Think of the happiest things, it’s the same as having wings”. One thing you’ll notice inside Walt Disney’s office are all of the models and pictures of airplanes. Walt loved planes and was an aficionado of flying. As a continuation of the “Stories from Walt’s Office” series, we’ll soar into the world of one of Walt’s favorite pastimes and look at the history behind the company airplane he used to scout Central Florida looking for the perfect place to build his second theme park.

A “Darling” Conversation with Wendy & John: Kathryn Beaumont and Paul Collins – Join Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John) as they reunite for the first time in many years to reminisce and discuss their experiences working on Peter Pan, meeting Walt Disney and learning to fly … literally.

You Can Fly” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the classic Disney song, “You Can Fly,” with fun lyrics on screen and lots of your favorite “Peter Pan” characters.

“Never Smile at a Crocodile” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the deleted song, “Never Smile at a Crocodile”, with fun lyrics on screen and highlighting the relationship between Captain Hook and Tick- Tock the Crocodile.

Legacy/Classic Bonus

DisneyView

Sing-along Version of the film: Sing along with your favorite songs from the movie.

Growing Up with Nine Old Men – “Peter Pan” is both a story of living with a child’s sense of openness to the world and an acknowledgement that the path to adulthood most often leads away from those qualities. A parallel of sorts to that duality can be found in Walt Disney and his core group of animators, the Nine Old Men, in their lives and in their work. Our short film will look at who they were and the parts they played in one of the most remarkable team of artists that ever worked together.

Deleted Song: “The Pirate’s Song” – Original demo recording of the song played over concept art.

Deleted Song: “Never Smile at a Crocodile” – With music played over static concept art of the crocodile from Pater Pan.

Deleted Song: “The Boatswain Song” – With music played over static concept art of Captain Hook and his crew.

Deleted Scene: “The Journey Home” – A proposed alternate ending where Peter asks the Lost Boys to return home with Wendy and the other children.

Deleted Scene: “Alternate Arrival” – A deleted scene where Wendy and the children are initially attacked by the Lost Boys because Tinker Bell tells them that Wendy is holding Peter captive. We also see in this version of the story that Nana the dog travels to Never Land with Wendy and the children.

Disney Song Select – Simply play the clip from the movie with subtitles underneath it.

“The Second Star to the Right”

“You Can Fly”

“A Pirate’s Life”

“Following the Leader”

“Your Mother and Mine”

Audio Commentary Hosted by Roy Disney – Audio commentary hosted by Roy Disney, but carried on by several other people.

Backstage Disney

You Can Fly: The Making of ‘Peter Pan’ – A making-of video of the 1953 Disney classic, “Peter Pan.”

In Walt’s Words: “Why I Made ‘Peter Pan’” – Based upon an article written by Walt Disney retold as a dramatic recreation.

Tinker Bell: A Fairy’s Tale – An introspective video on the creation, history and personality of the one and only “Tink.”

The Peter Pan That Almost Was – Hosted by Ron Clements and John Musker, we take a look at the storyboards and early concepts of a version of the “Peter Pan” film that never saw the light of day.

The “Peter Pan” Story – An original featurette for the film created in 1952.

The Walt Disney Signature Collection includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. Each release will offer special features for every member of your family plus a unique digital experience. To date, the collection includes “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi”, “The Lion King,” and “Lady and the Tramp.”

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE:

Movies Anywhere simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Movies Anywhere brings together the movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros. Participating digital retailers are Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu. Movies Anywhere offers a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies, including new releases, and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can connect their Movies Anywhere account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies from the comfort of their living room and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone®, iPad® and iPod Touch®; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Consumers can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere.

Gabrielle Union stars as a woman who will do anything to rescue her children from a band of ruthless criminals who kidnap them before her very eyes.

In Breaking In, the new Universal Pictures action thriller from V for Vendetta director James McTeigue and producer Will Packer, Shaun (Union) takes her two children on a weekend getaway to her late father’s secluded house. When they arrive, she discovers her father had built a fortress designed with impenetrable security. As she wonders why, criminals force their way in, lock her out of the house and hold her children hostage, demanding the contents of a safe.

Initially feeling powerless, Shaun’s maternal instincts kick in and she gets physical as she figures out a way to outwit her children’s captors.

When the ringleader tells her she is “a woman alone at the mercy of strangers,” she becomes determined to prove them wrong and find a way into the house to save her kids and herself from what looks to be certain death, even if she cooperates with the thieves.

Union shines in this action-packed suspense thriller as a desperate mom who will stop at nothing to get her children back and teach the criminals a lesson: no traps, doors or locks, and especially no man can match a mother with a mission.

The movie will keep you at the edge of your seat, rooting for Union as she tells the criminals “you broke into the wrong house.”

Welcome back to another season recapping The Originals! Unfortunately, this is the last season for the show, but I’m sure we have a heck of a season ahead of us.

Check out the podcast below and let us know what you thought of the premiere episode!

Also, make sure to follow us on Twitter (@ThisIsKristin_ and @mikethemovieguy) and Instagram! You can tweet us or comment on Insta and we just might read your comments on air next week.

SYNOPSIS: Desperate to see her father Klaus after seven years, Hope resorts to drastic measures to bring her father back to New Orleans. Hayley attempts to minimize the fallout from Hope’s actions, but not before news of what she’s done ripples through the city. Meanwhile, Freya’s guilt over not being able to reunite her family gets in the way of her happiness with Keelin, while Rebekah struggles with her inability to fully commit to Marcel. Finally, struggling without Elijah by his side, Klaus’ murderous rampage throughout Europe leads to an unexpected encounter with Caroline Forbes.

Magnificent lyrics and wonderful vocals make Bishop Briggs’ highly anticipated “Church of Scars” a must have album

Written by Jesus Figueroa

The raw emotion of each and every song make this debut 10-track “Church of Scars” both the beautiful satisfying album debut for Bishop Briggs and leaves listeners anxious to hear more.

From start to finish this album showcases a vocal talent which is unique, passionate and attention grabbing.

“Water,” the song from the video above, moves the listener and stirs up feelings each and every time they listen to it, and I have listened to it more than 20 times in less than 24 hours.

The vocals start slow and smooth and flows to an almost gospel chorus. The lyrics include some great symbolism which listeners can easily relate to and not only listen to the lyrics being sung but feel the meaning as well.

Much like “Water,’ “River,” which had already been released on Briggs’ Youtube channel, brings a familiarity and connects the sound of the album.

Each song is a tear-jerker, which is testament to the care these tracks were given to be able to be universal.

A combination of metaphors throughout the album seam to imply a sense of freedom and being better off, such as in the song “Lyin'” which although being a slower track can hit hard with deep meaning.

The melancholy song can have both a sense of relief and sadness while walking the line of hopeful.

“Hallowed Ground” continues the sense of self-importance with a sensitive feel and yet it beautifully brings forward a strength.

The combination of heavy instrumentals and powerful vocals makes this an anthem for anyone who has ever had a broken heart.

Previously released song “Dream” is one of the tracks which showcases the songwriting and vocal talents which makes “Church of Scars” the treat for the ears.

Bishop Briggs’ debut album “Church of Scars” is available now.

For those who follow me on social media, music is a big part of my daily life and I am quite the music snob.

I also cannot stop praising the talent of this wonderful, talented singer.

Bishop Briggs hits the road on her Headlining Tour starting on April 27 in Vancouver.

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The Premier SoCal Halloween Fan Convention to Bring an All New Fully Immersive Experience to Downtown Los Angeles

ScareLA, the first convention to bring Halloween to the summer, announced on April 20 that it will return for its 6th consecutive year on August 25-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall K.

The SoCal fan favorite is set to bring new frights and promises an all new fully-immersive show unlike anything audiences have seen or experienced before.Under the theme “Descend Into Darkness,” ScareLA 2018 invites horror fans of all ages to experience and celebrate the spirit of Halloween more than once a year.

“As the first-ever fan convention dedicated to Halloween, ScareLA has built a vibrant tradition bringing one of the world’s most beloved fall holidays to the middle of the summer,” Lora Ivanova, Founder and Executive Producer of ScareLA, said. “This year we inch a tad closer to Halloween to ramp up excitement for the scare season with an all new and fully immersive show unlike anything audiences have ever seen. ScareLA is the true scare season premiere in SoCal and we can’t wait to open the doors to darkness at the heart of Los Angeles this August.”

As a testament to the great success, ScareLA has quickly become one of the fastest growing independent conventions in the US drawing thousands of attendees from all over the world.

ScareLA has inspired numerous events and experiences in SoCal and beyond transforming the fall tradition of Halloween into a year-round way of life.Situated in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world, ScareLA spotlights the rich Southern California scare industry and community, from its iconic seasonal theme park events, to haunted attractions, home haunts, theater, film, escape rooms, interactive experiences and much more.

About ScareLA
ScareLA is the world’s first summer Halloween convention. Situated in the entertainment capital of the world, the event celebrates the American scare season traditions and the diverse cultural heritage of the Greater Los Angeles region. Featuring hundreds of specialty vendors, education programming, world-class industry presentations, ScareLA draws over 10,000 professionals, fans and families from the U.S. and abroad to celebrate Halloween early every summer. ScareLA is one of the fastest growing independent fan conventions in the U.S. addressing a $10 billion Halloween industry worldwide.

Actress Roselyn Sanchez talks with Jesus Figueroa, @Thisfunktional of Thisfunktional.com, about her part of Malia in “Traffik.”

Sanchez talked about how uncomfortable it was to film the culminating sequence to her character’s story, being compelled to be a part of this story in part by the writer-director’s story and being proud to have gotten to play such a complex role which challenged her.

In the action-packed thriller, “Traffik,” plans for a romantic weekend getaway at a secluded mountain estate turn to terror when Brea (Paula Patton) and John (Omar Epps) accidentally discover the hidden world of a brutal biker gang. Joined unexpectedly by their friends, Darren (Laz Alonso) and Malia (Roselyn Sanchez), the foursome is forced into a deadly fight for their lives against the gang who will stop at nothing to keep their dangerous secrets from getting out. The film is written and directed by Deon Taylor, and produced by Roxanne Avent, Paula Patton and Taylor. Codeblack Films, a division of Lionsgate will release the film wide on April 20.

Actor Laz Alonso talks with Jesus Figueroa, @Thisfunktional of Thisfunktional.com, about his role as Darren in “Traffik.”

Alonso talks about filming in a secluded spot in Sacramento away from society and cell phone reception, getting to improve many lines and seeing how well the role came together and what he came away realizing once this project was done.

In the action-packed thriller, “Traffik,” plans for a romantic weekend getaway at a secluded mountain estate turn to terror when Brea (Paula Patton) and John (Omar Epps) accidentally discover the hidden world of a brutal biker gang. Joined unexpectedly by their friends, Darren (Laz Alonso) and Malia (Roselyn Sanchez), the foursome is forced into a deadly fight for their lives against the gang who will stop at nothing to keep their dangerous secrets from getting out. The film is written and directed by Deon Taylor, and produced by Roxanne Avent, Paula Patton and Taylor. Codeblack Films, a division of Lionsgate will release the film wide on April 20, 2018.

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL JUNE 5, 4K ULTRA HD, 3D BLU-RAY™, BLU-RAY™ AND DVD JUNE 19 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Ten years after the events of the first film, the Kaiju return in “Pacific Rim Uprising” with a new deadly threat that reignites the conflict between these otherworldly monsters of mass destruction and Jaegers, the human-piloted super-machines that were built to vanquish them.

“Pacific Rim Uprising” arrives on Digital and the all-new digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on June 5, as well as on 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-rayTM, Blu-rayTM, DVD and On Demand on June 19 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Building on the striking visual world created in the first film, “Pacific Rim Uprising” features a next-generation battleground complete with upgraded Jaegers and new Kaiju that offers a captivating a state-of-the-art spectacle perfect for your next night in.

Experience one-of-a-kind special effects and more than forty minutes of bonus content when you own the next installment on 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-rayTM, Blu-rayTM and DVD.

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The international cast also includes Tian Jing (Kong: Skull Island) and Adria Arjona (“Emerald City”). Rising up to become the most powerful defense force to ever walk the earth, they set course for a spectacular all-new adventure on a towering scale.

The film will be available on 4K Ultra HD in a combo pack which includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-rayTM, Blu-rayTM and Digital. The 4K Ultra HD disc will include the same bonus features as the Blu-rayTM version, all in stunning 4K resolution.

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“A promising young artist poised to join the best of the UK’s growing country music scene.” The Independent

“One to watch.” The Times

“One of the brightest emerging talents in country music.” Music Week

At a time when country music is exploding into the mainstream with huge collaborations between Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton, and Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, Catherine McGrath is poised to become the first international crossover star from the burgeoning UK country scene.

Raised in Rostrevor, a small rural village in Northern Ireland, Catherine McGrath is the personification of how country music is opening its borders to talent from far outside of its epicentre in Nashville. In fact, Catherine was immediately embraced by the community upon her first visit.

Working with a kindred spirit in the shape of producer Steve Robson – a Geordie who became a force within the scene after co-writing Rascal Flatts’ smash hit ‘What Hurts The Most’ – Catherine went onto collaborate with a number of Nashville powerhouse producers and co-writers such as Jimmy Robbins (Keith Urban), Liz Rose (Taylor Swift), Forest Glen Whitehead (Kelsea Ballerini) and Sam Ellis (Hunter Hayes).

Country music is of course rooted in Irish folk, so it feels natural that Catherine is at the forefront of a new wave of country. It’s fitting on a personal level too. Catherine was raised in a music loving family, and has regularly performed at her parents’ spirited Fiddler’s Green festival, which attracts musicians from as far afield as North America and Germany. And when Catherine was ready to reach a wider audience, she posted covers of her favourite country songs to YouTube which resulted in her obtaining management and signing a deal with Warner Bros. Records.

Hailed as a major new talent by Sir Elton John, Catherine McGrath’s ascent has been backed by Radio 1 support from Adele Roberts, Scott Mills and Cel Spellman; a playlist at Radio 2, where Bob Harris has been a long-term fan.

Now Catherine McGrath is set to make the biggest statement of her career to date with the July 27th release of her debut album Talk Of This Town. To coincide with the album’s launch, Catherine today releases her new single ‘Wild’, a lovelorn country-flavoured pop smash that was inspired by her experiences at a Coldplay show, and is her tenth consecutive New Music Friday UK playlisted track on Spotify.

Catherine explains: “This song is one of my favourites I’ve written. It’s about a guy who I liked but who still wasn’t over his ex. He took me to a Coldplay concert that he was meant to go to with his ex and half the time he was holding my hand, the other half he was texting her. Every time we were together he was only ever halfway there and the day after the concert I went into the studio and ended up writing about the whole thing. It’s really honest and I think that’s what I love most about it.”

Catherine co-wrote the song with Steve Robson as well as Lindy Robbins (Dua Lipa) and Jeffrey Steele (Rascal Flatts).

Recorded at various locations in Nashville and London, Talk Of This Town affirms Catherine’s credentials as an artist and songwriter to be reckoned with. It features three tracks which have each exceeded a million streams at Spotify in the shape of the ‘Cinderella’, ‘Thought It Was Gonna Be Me’ and ‘Just In Case’ as well as a wealth of new material.

Other highlights include ‘Don’t Let Me Forget’, a duet with the American country sensation Hunter Hayes; the anthemic ‘Lost In The Middle’, a celebration of the escapist qualities of country music; and the closing ‘She’ll Never Lose You’, a stripped-back ballad which showcases the power and finesse of Catherine’s vocal.

‘Talk of This Town’ will be released on digital and CD formats. The album is now available to pre-order from https://wbr.ec/tott_album with the tracks ‘Wild’, ‘Talk Of This Town’, ‘Thought It Was Gonna Be Me’ and ‘Just In Case’ all provided as instant downloads. Catherine McGrath is quickly building a reputation in the live area too, with highlights including two performances at Country 2 Country, further festivals including Latitude and Wilderness, and tours with Dan & Shay and The Shires. Her debut London headline show at Camden Assembly was sold-out, while next month’s Bush Hall gig also sold-out within two hours and her Manchester show at the Deaf Institute soon followed suit. Ticket sales are also strong in Glasgow, which looks set to sell-out imminently.

ALBUM TRACKLISTING
1. Talk of This Town
2. The Edges
3. Lost In The Middle
4. Wild
5. Thought It Was Gonna Be Me
6. ‘Don’t Let Me Forget’ with Hunter Hayes
7. Enough For You
8. Dodged A Bullet
9. Good At Love
10. Cinderella
11. Just In Case
12. Good Goodbyes
13. She’ll Never Love You

Like this:

REVEAL NEW VOCALIST MATT JAMES& RELEASE FIRST SINGLE WITH NEW LINEUP‘SURROGATE’ WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

UK TOUR WITH SAVAGE MESSIAH STARTS TODAYINCLUDES THE UNDERWORLD, LONDON – APRIL 19TH

MAIN STAGE APPEARANCES AT HELLFEST & VOLT FESTIVAL

Dubbed as “the UK’s next brightest metal hope” (Metal Hammer) and Planet Rock’s ‘Best New Band 2017’ award winners, The Raven Age have today announced the addition of former Wild Lies vocalist Matt James who takes over frontman duties as the band continue their path to global stardom.

“I’m feeling incredibly honoured and excited to become part of ‪The Raven Age family. It’s been such a natural fit for me, and has made me see that the possibilities are endless for the future of this band,” says Matt.

The first taste of the new line up, completed by guitarists George Harris and Tony Maue, bassist Matt Cox and drummer Jai Patel, comes with the brand new single ‘Surrogate’.

“The morale and excitement of ‪The Raven Age has been sky high since Matt joined the band” comments George Harris. “He is an incredible vocalist and has brought a new lease of life to our sound. We can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been up to in the studio and ‘Surrogate’ is just a teaser of what Matt is bringing to the table.”

With an already impressive portfolio of over 250 live shows played worldwide, including their first European headline run and support slots with acts including Anthrax, Gojira, Mastodon, Ghost, Iron Maiden and Tremonti as well as appearances at Wacken Open Air, Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park, Download UK and Graspop festivals, The Raven Age have a huge year of touring planned in 2018.

To kick things off, the band will join Savage Messiah on their six-date UK tour, which starts tonight at Nottingham Rock City and visits Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmingham before concluding at The Underworld in London on April 19th. “We can’t wait to get back on the road to play some of our new material for the first time!” adds Harris.

Their live schedule will continue this summer with main stage appearances at this year’s Hellfest and Volt Festival and European dates supporting Iron Maiden, with more high profile tours soon to be announced.

With a second album in the works, to follow their acclaimed debut Darkness Will Rise, and the US in their sights, The Raven Age head things up for the new generation of British metal bands breaking through.

BROTHERS OSBORNE

FROM SECOND STUDIO ALBUM PORT SAINT JOEOUT APRIL 20THVIA SNAKEFARM RECORDSPREORDER HERE

UK HEADLINE TOUR **LAST FEW TICKETS REMAINING**

KENDELL MARVEL CONFIRMED AS SPECIAL GUEST

Brothers Osborne have released the new track ‘Pushing Up Daisies (Love Alive)’, which is taken from their forthcoming album Port Saint Joe, due out April 20th via Snakefarm Records.

‘Pushing Up Daisies…’ is available to anyone who pre-orders the album here; Port Saint Joe also features the lead single ‘Shoot Me Straight’, which went directly onto the Planet Rock Radio A-list. You can watch the video for ‘Shoot Me Straight’ here, showing footage of the band in the studio.

In addition, the duo’s first ever headline tour of the UK & Ireland, set to take place in May, is now virtually sold-out, with just a handful of tickets remaining for the Dublin, Belfast and Bristol shows only, and the venue in Glasgow having to be upgraded due to phenomenal demand.

Illinois songwriter / vocalist / guitarist Kendell Marvel, who co-wrote with the Brothers on certain of the latest songs, including the new track ‘Pushing Up Daisies (Love Alive)’, supports across the aforementioned dates.

Recorded in a Florida beach house in the town of Port St. Joe, away from the sometimes sterile environs of the studio, Port Saint Joe is the Maryland brothers’ second studio effort. Raw, honest and uniquely homemade, the record was mostly captured in a series of live takes, retaining the atmospheric background noises of wind, roaring water and the excited and ‘refreshed’ encouragement of visiting Nashville friends. This unconventional location proved a perfect complement to the Brothers’ music, which instinctively bends both rules and genres…

“Port Saint Joe’ is a sonic representation of who we’ve become, not only as a band but as people,” says guitarist John Osborne. “Every show we’ve ever played together is on this record. Every song we’ve ever written and every mile we’ve ever ridden has led to the making of this record. Imperfections and all.”

Vocalist / guitarist TJ adds, “We shacked up for two weeks to make an unabashed record that would reflect who we are in every way, and in the process we had the most enjoyable and memorable recording experience of our lives.”

A diverse collection, Port Saint Joe touches on half-lit drinking songs, emotive ballads, southern slow jams and roots-y rave-ups. The result is a record that’s both familiar and fresh, mixing classic country touchstones with amplified guitars and memorable hooks. In short, a 10-track collection for the modern age – forward-thinking and versatile, with songs that nod to the past whilst still pushing forward into new territory.

If Pawn Shop, the Brothers’ debut outing (re-issued via Snakefarm in 2017) introduced them in style, then Port St. Joe comprehensively defines them.

PLAYING UK SHOWS THIS MAYINCLUDING THE GREAT ESCAPE & DOT TO DOT FESTIVALS
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LONDON’S HOUSE OF VANS MAY 16TH

Conceived in the shadow of New York City in the dying embers of 2016, some 20 miles west of its lavish neon clutches, The Nectars rapidly climbed out of the tangled New Jersey suburbs to thrust themselves into the local alternative rock consciousness. Their punk-inflamed guitars, inventive harmonies, trashy beats, funkadelia and raw vocals lay a foundation that’s got NYC hipsters buzzing around their scorching live performance.

Harking back to the New York punk / pop scene of the late 70’s but filtered through the modern sensibility of tech-savvy millennial creatives, their first two singles – ‘Heaven’ and ‘I Want It’ – have been released to much acclaim in the USA, UK and mainland Europe.

Their debut album Sci-Fi Television is a ferocious, euphoric, sarcastic, brilliant slice of sleazy pop genius. Recorded at Barbershop studios in New Jersey and Studio G in Brooklyn, it’s a nine-song collection of short, sharp bangers, each with their own individual sound delving into art-rock debauchery.

The work of lead singer Jessica Kenny, Mike Montalbano (drums/vocals), Jon Paul (bass) and Michael Baron (guitar), the band describe the album as their search for inner peace and an attempt to escape from some of the evils that have taken center-stage in the world.

“’Sci-Fi Television’ is our cumulative answer to the last 60 years of rock music, dissected on our alien operating table. Immensely personal and sometimes profoundly goofy, we wrote these songs as an attempted escape from all the real life monsters surrounding us. What we didn’t realize initially was isolating ourselves from the turmoil of news media left us alone with an entirely different beast. Ourselves. Picking apart the bad habits of our 20’s through song brought clarity to our band message. Profound societal change begins from within. There’s no hiding from yourself. With that in mind we’re abducting Rock N Roll, and never bringing it back. Enjoy.”

Opener ‘Holy’ races off on a 1 minute, 17 second frenzy, inspired by the band’s personal frustrations with the discovery of lead found in the water of the city and the local governments “deal with it” attitude. The space-age video for ‘I Want It’ showcases the band’s off-kilter personality, with debut single ‘Heaven’ demonstrating their gloriously technicolor performance.

Upcoming single ‘We Will Run’, is an anthem for all the dreamers, with its calmer, indie-pop style, topped with Jessica’s beautiful and distinctive vocals, while the track ‘Don’t Panic’ kicks in with a pounding bass drum and running guitar lick before Jessica lays waste with the lines; “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please / first of all, don’t panic, but the building is on fire / The firemen aren’t coming, they’re all saving their own families / and the worst part is that we stopped paying them so long ago”.

‘Lights Off’ radiates a feel-good ambience, with upbeat melodies and themes of sex, highs and partying, questioning “What’s it for? / This life’s a waste if you don’t take it for more”, while closing the album is the snappy ‘Tired’ which ramps up their sassy, punk style, with Jon Paul sharing vocal duties reminiscing on their fun nights out.

The band draw influences from a ragged mix of The Ramones, Patti Smith, The Pixies and Blondie while earning comparisons to peak 90’s era No Doubt and Paramore. This quirky debut is fun, abrasive and a straight to the point indie-punk pleasure. It’s a perfect introduction to this fiery four-piece, who continue their assault on the US, UK and beyond.

The Nectars will be heading over to the UK this May having already whipped up a storm in New York, to perform a number of shows including a headline date at London’s House Of Vans on May 16th before playing at The Great Escape festival the following day, as well as sold out shows in Pontypridd and Birmingham plus slots at this year’s Dot To Dot festival.